Povestirile lui Adrian Zograf

Panait Istrati’s tales focus on Adrian Zografi. Istrati uses this made-up self to tell his tales. They draw on folk myths and records of past events. They also draw on the East’s ways of telling tales. They form part of Romanian fiction. The stress falls on telling tales, not on the novel.

Critic Alexandru Piru sees a link with Romain Rolland’s Jean Cristophe. He links the two through Istrati’s use of Adrian. Mircea Zaciu sees his tales as close to Sadoveanu’s work. Zaciu also points to the Romanian roots of Istrati’s voice.